Weekend Wakeup: IMF meeting brings temporary street closures

WASHINGTON – While Cherry Blossom activities continue, another D.C. spring ritual that could bring potential traffic snarls is the IMF/World Bank Spring Meeting. Street closures are fairly minimal, but keep in mind that you could encounter a number of motorcades coming and going at unpredictable hours in every direction, and those can slow down your ride more than the closures.

Metro is back from its spring break, so expect weekend track work. On the lighter side, this weekend offers craft shows, boat shows and literary festivals. So if a motorcade gets in your way, take a deep breath and get to your event safely.

I-495 at Kenilworth Ave Overnight closures

Friday and Saturday April 21 and 22, The Maryland State Highway Administration will close lanes on interstates 495 and 95 at Kenilworth Avenue to install new steel beams for the MD 201 bridge over the beltway.

The Outer Loop on April 20 beginning at 7 p.m., one lane will close and then 2 at 9 p.m. and 3 lanes at 10 p.m. After midnight there will be total closures up to 30 minutes at a time. Lanes should re-open by 8 a.m. The ramp from MD 201 southbound to the Beltway will be closed from 11 p.m. until 8 a.m.

The same will happen on the Inner Loop April 21 beginning at 7 p.m. Lanes should reopen by 8 a.m.

IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings

Friday through Sunday, several street closures and parking restrictions will be put in place for the spring meetings of the IMF/World Bank Board of Governors. All closures and restrictions will continue through Sunday, April 22 around 7 p.m.

19th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue to G street will be closed.

Expect temporary closures on the following streets:

18th and 20th Streets NW between G Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

G Street NW between 18th and 20th Streets.

The southern side of H Street NW between 18th and 20th Streets.G Street NW from 18th to 20th Streets

Emergency No Parking restrictions will be in effect for the following streets:

This year’s MS Walk is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday. More than 2,500 people will line up in front of the Museum of the American Indian, and will walk a three-mile route around the National Mall. All walkers will be on the outer gravel paths and sidewalks, but the large umber of participants will certainly draw attention. The walk should wrap up by 11 a.m.

The 6th Annual D.C. Walk for Lupus Now

The walk will take place on Pennsylvania Ave NW between 12th Street and the Capitol on Saturday. Walkers will begin near Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania then walk to the Capitol and back. Pennsylvania Avenue between 12th Street and the Capitol will be closed between 8:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. The walk is rain or shine.

Smithsonian Craft Show

The Smithsonian Craft Show will run Friday through Sunday at the National Building Museum, and will feature 121 artists. The juried show will also be host to several special events, including lectures, live music, and panel discussions.

Metro weekend track work

Metro’s spring break from weekend track work is officially over. All work will start Friday at 10 p.m. and continue through system closing on Sunday, April 22.

Blue line trains will operate in two segments: Between Rosslyn and Largo Town Center and between Franconia-Springfield and Mt. Vernon Square.

Red Line:

Three stations will be closed: Takoma, Fort Totten, and Brookland.

The Fort Totten station will close the Red Line Platform, but Green/Yellow service will be open.

During daytime hours on Saturday and Sunday, Red Line trains will operate every 10 minutes between Shady Grove and Rhode Island Avenue, and between Glenmont and Silver Spring.

Orange Line:

Orange Line trains will single track between East Falls Church and West Falls Church while crews perform testing associated with the Silver Line extension.

No significant delays are expected, and Orange Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals.

Bay Bridge Boat Show

The Bay Bridge Boat Show is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Bay Bridge Marina. Visitors will get a chance to win cool door prizes, including art, boating accessories, and boat-related services. There will be free boat demos, classic boats and cars on display and seminars.

Bethesda Literary Festival

The Bethesda Literary Festival will run Friday through Sunday, and will feature visits from several notable guests, including Pulitzer Prize winners Joby Warrick and Thomas Friedman, Goosebumps author R.L. Stine, and Walter Isaacson (author of the Steve Jobs Biography).